I know that the runway needs expanded to allow room for the jet. When I was there in May the one end of the runway was tillte more then a tar and graveled runway. The DC9 woill need a full concrete runway so untill you see the other end of the runway get removed and a new extended runway put in, I'd think the jet is like the WFFC one

Now I'm hearing that they haven't bought it yet? Are you sure? Everyone says they bought it like 8 months ago!

Now they need new engines? that sounds like another big setback! Why would you buy a plane that needed new engines? You wouldn't buy a used car that needed a new engine? (unless it's a classic) could someone who knows planes explain the pros/cons of this purchase?

Not many jets have an airstair door like the 727 or DC-9. You're limited in choices. They don't make these planes anymore. A 727 takes more runway to takeoff and land on than a DC-9. A 727 also requires 3 crew members as opposed to 2 for a DC-9. Even if new planes were available to fit this roll the purchase price would be astronimically higher.

I have just one thought about what someone commented earlier. They said something like "it will only be used occasionally for special events."

In aviation, "expensive plane" and "not used a lot" don't cut it. I can see a lot of issues trying to make this plane even break even.

Don't you think Perris must have the runway length for it to take off empty? Doesn't seem wise to land at an airport that isn't long enough to allow a takeoff.

You can read all those performance charts, is it allowed?

Maybe Perris is really just a last resting place for this bird like Marana is for so many old jets.

Sure would be a great way to get to all the Boogies! I used to say that Kapowsin got their Otter because their Porter just didn't hold enough stuff for their large family to travel comfortably. Maybe this is an exaggerated version of that.

If they got the dc 9 working....I would be up there every weekend. It would crush the competition.

It would be fun for the novelty of jumping a jet, but it wouldn't really be a good everday jump plane because you can't get many out the narrow door quickly and it fast speed would make for a lot of out landings.

But, like I said, jet jumps would be popular at big boogies, and what better way to get there and take a few dozen friends?

Skyvans are pretty mainentence intensive planes compared to Otters. And a Skyvan is only a fraction of the price of a DC9.

There is a reason that the WFFC had leased a jet for a lot of years. The purchase cost, maintence, and now the biggest killer insurance was EXPENSIVE. I have no idea the actual cost of the stuff but I know it was large.

The only boogies that have the facilities to support a DC9 are WFFC and Richmond. Considering the C130 did'nt return to Richmond I don't think the summer boogie circuit has quite the draw that it did only a few years ago. Even the DC-3 and Beech 18 flew only a few loads a day at WFFC this year and they did'nt have NEAR the min per load number you'd need for a DC9 to fly jumpers.

A Jet jump is a novelity jump, after 2 or 3 jumps from novelity aircraft they usually lose their appeal (I'm still waiting for my Jet jump) and then the aircraft are not used that frequently again till a new generation of jumpers are seeking out a new novelity (like jumpers are looking at a DC-3 as a novelity anymore ) for their logbooks.

Unless the plane is going to be used for cargo also I can't believe that it would break even on flying jumpers.

I've done my Pitts jump, I really don't want to do another. I've jumped the C130, and at the price I really see no need to do another. Only things I want to jump yet are the B17/B24 and the 727 (I want a DB Cooper number )

Don't count on a faster climb rate. Sure it will get up top in only 5 minutes or so, but it will take a lot longer then that to be lined up on jump run. The 727 at WFFC I guess was taking 12-14 minutes to take off, circle around and do jump run #1, it would then do a go around and increase its speed for jump run #2. Thats a long wait for Jump run #2.

Large exits a problem? 2 way linked exits are an issue on a Jet pass. There is video on the net of grippers getting ripped off of a 2 way that tried to launch a linked piece out of the 727. Jets are worthless for Tandems or AFF. Do you have 60-75 people standing around all day that are willing to make 5-6 loads where building speed stars is about the largest thing they can do? Thats what it takes to operate a jet full time. Think of the door as being a King Air that are no floaters allowed on it, and jump speed is increased.

I'm not saying its impossible, but there are going to be alot of issues keeping a Jet full time for jumpers.

Actually, I think you'll find that given the number of jets parked in the desert right now, you can pick up a jet VERY cheaply. The numbers I heard were around 300,000 for a jet without a lot of hours left on it.

Granted this isn't exactly cheap, but if you can keep your maintenance down (read: don't use it much) I can imagine that it's possible to break even.

This is certainly the time to buy with so many jets rusting in the desert. It'd be smart for a DZ to buy now in cash, sit on it until the industry picks up, which conceivably could be next year, and the run then boogie circuit.

I think with the big old planes, it's not as crutial that they run continuously. For example, Otters run less then Caravans.

>1) The plane can probably make it to altitude in half the time of an otter or skyvan.

Only an issue if a DZO is expecting to be able to put, say, 30 loads out of it a day. At any place other than the WFFC, it's very, very hard to get 100 people per load to turn that fast. Especially when you can't use it for AFF, static line, big ways or 4-way team practice.

>2) You can expect better altitude like say 14K. The same way you get a > little extra altitude out of a King Air.

At Perris, altitude is not really limited by aircraft performance. Many times we'll get to 12.5 and the otter will level off and fly for 2-3 minutes lining up for jump run. No reason to expect the jet would not do the same.